UK government emergency alert

[HCarterSmith]

I didn't get any alert today. I've got an S10 with OS 12 for Android. I've got the Emergency Alert Notification switched on in settings so i don't know why I and the rest of my family who also use Smarty, didn't get anything. I was disappointed I didn't recieve a message but also worried for if there is an actual Emergency, I won't know unless other people from other networks inform me.

[Pauline210175]

Nope neither me of my daughter got one!

[beccaC_161256]

I didn't either. Samsung user. 

[beccaC_161256]

Just seen another post saying that only works if on 4g/5g - I was in my house on WiFi calling so that may be another reason I didn't get it. 

[Jamze]

No alerts here. Smarty, Three and O2. Poor signal, one bar, but good enough for SMS messages to get to us usually. Samsung, iPhone and Pixel

[Chris_1083355]

I have a Google pixel 6a , with emergency alerts enabled and I failed to receive the emergency alert. I have read on the internet that a lot of people on either Three's network or a provider such as Smarty that uses the three network also failed to receive the Alert. 

[Michael_T]

EE seems to have delivered more consistently, by what I’ve read so far.

Some of the press reporters have indicated that no one on the Three infrastructure had received anything…so, as SMARTY operates on the Three infrastructure then would explain why.  
It seems to me like it’s a combination of both some network failing, plus where you are in the country.  Also, as networks provide Wi-Fi calling, then possible that users were on this when the alert sent.  It alert only works if you’re on 4G/5G at the time it is sent.

[JoRo]

I didn't get the alert on my iPhone SE. However, I was using wifi calling at the time so I'm not sure whether the alert was not sent in my area or I did not receive it because of wifi calling. 

[SusanSm_1147670]

I never got the alert ? My husband got it on both of his phones  on different networks.

[AmandaGu_963860]

I didn’t get it either and my daughter who was in another city at the time didn’t get either but her friends (about 4 more people with different networks did). I wonder if someone with smarty got it. 

[PeterSm_1580201]

Seems like the test didn't go well reading these comments! I found someone on twitter thinking it's am issue with certain pixel phones but it looks worse than that

[JamesClark]

No, three of us with iPhones on Smarty, a Samsung on giffgaff and and iPad on giffgaff. None received the alert. 

[PixelDrift]

I didn’t get the alert, nor did my partner.

we are both on iPhone

[Michael_T]

I didn’t receive the alert, and my work phone on O2 didn’t either!  My folks are on Vodafone didn’t get the alert either…so it makes me think it’s possibly a problem with certain areas not receiving, rather than the network

[SharonM_1302364]

Hi, my daughter and I didn't get it either. I have an Android and she's got an iPhone. Both phones have alerts turned on. 😢

[SharonMa_525899]

Hi, my daughter and I didn't get it either. I've got an Android and she's got an iPhone. Both phones have alerted turned on too. 😢

[LynnOrt_1234627]

I did not receive a government alert on my Samsung S21 plus even though it has been enabled on my phone and my phone has been updated. I am on Smarty network please advise. 

[IanGofton]

I didn't receive it on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 on Smarty, but did on my Samsung Galaxy A33 5g with no SIM card in it. Both up to date and enabled...

[Betty_Swollox]

So I've read no one on 3 or Smarty received the alert .

[WelshPaul]

I did, my wife did, my three sons did. 👍🏻

[PeterHa_1566983]

So I guess you can spot the Smarty and 3 users - they're the ones without the tinfoil hats. Sounds like the hype was just that.

[DarrenL_1531592]

Did anyone else not get the alert today even with it enabled ?

[DaveLorde_72040]

I didn't get it.

[leedorney]

I didn't get it - turned it off in settings - on holiday + in a bad reception area anyhow - so to get a msg. telling me you're about to die and possibly survive and live in hell thereafter if you survive after a wonderful msg. is a total joke, may be radical viewpoint;  just no... 

[WelshPaul]

[BarryBr_1057968]

Hi I never received the alert but my partner and son did but they are with a different network is there a problem with smarty

[WelshPaul]

No, I got the alert. You must have been classed as expendable by the government. 👀

[Dave42094]

I have 2 phones on the Three (Smarty) network. Both are iPhones, both have have the most up to date OS, both were on, both have 5G capability, both have alerts enabled, both had good 4G reception. Neither received the test alert. 
How will I know wether I will receive real alerts in the future?

[DaveLorde_72040]

Likewise - I have a Samsung Galaxy S23+ all alert settings are on, good cell signal, good WiFi signal, but no emergency alert.

I saw in the news that many Three users didn't get the alert.

[DaleCha_1995848]

Ha ha. So the emergency alert didn't work on the three network.

[JoRo]

I did not receive the alert.  I was using wifi calling at the time.  Would this have made any difference?

[KennethM_238739]

Apparently it's a problem with the Three network. Loads of people saying online they never received the alert. Myself included.

 

[AdrianJN]

Snatch defeat from the jaws of victory! Wouldn't give it too much thought @HCarterSmith .. can't imagine it will deliver much of anything useful. Definitely not via Three is just the icing on the cake.

[MarkWeatherill]

Can UK Govt. Lock Phones That Don’t Reply to or Acknowledge Emergency Alert Messages? | Snopes.com

The above link may help. 

[JohnHolg_197178]

Useful link - thank you. Came across it whilst searching to see if a problem I perceive may be real.  I have a Smarty SIM specifically for use with an iPad.  It was obtained before Smarty made Data Only SIMs available and although it serves Voice, Texts and Data, only Data is functional on my iPad.  I can’t therefore acknowledge the alarm and am concerned that my data functionality will be impaired by failure to acknowledge it.  
Should I be concerned?

[GraemeSh_453981]

I personally will not be opening there text, this is just another attempt at corrupt governments trying to snoop on all our devices, I would also like to make it clear if SMARTY decide to allow my phone to be blocked for any length of time for not replying I will not pay them one more penny, this is just the start of the governments agenda to control us all, we need to stand together and say enough is enough, no more governments fear tactics to push there corrupt agendas.

[Mhisani]

Let's keep this simple. It's a broadcast. It goes out to every phone. Like a text. You dismiss it. It's gone. That's it. It doesn't reply, nothing. No data is sent back. It does not block your device in any way. It just asks you to dismiss it rather than just switching away. If your device supports it you can even turn off recieving them but regardless it goes out to all phones on the net regardless if you see it or not.  I totally get your concern about privacy these days but this isn't quite what you're alluding to.

[Mhisani]

Well let's look at some logical points shall we?

There is no way the gov can possibly have software patches for every type of device and OS  and frankly I'm worried that scammers are going to use scare tactics like this to get malware and so on to peoples devices. Please do NOT download everything. What they mean by MUST ACCEPT is because it's an EMERGENCY alert you must just respond to it on your device. As in dismiss. this isn't gov spying this is to stop you letting that beatboxing cat on tiktok pop up and you don't see the flood alert etc.

The emergency system is used a lot in the USA and iphones and android support those notifications natively. You might get a surprise if you go on holiday and there is a warning. And if you're there the same thing happens. Just acknowledge it which doesn't send or download anything.

Please do NOT download ANYTHING. This is ripe for fraud at the moment.

If your phone is from the dark ages then it simply won't get the alert.

[Chalkychap]

Yes @Mhisani, scammers could use this as an opportunity to trick people. As you say, there is no need to download anything. 

Most modern mobile handsets have been designed to receive an emergency alert via a cell broadcast, without needing to download or patch anything on the handset. I guess older handsets won't receive the alert.

These emergency alert messages are just mobile network cell broadcast messages, which are limited to maximum of 1395 characters. A cell broadcast is basically a special type of SMS message. 

[Mhisani]

I'm aware. Please read the original posters statement saying

" MUST accept the download"

In my post you can see I am making sure they do not download anything, also showing how this system is already used for example in the US. However I can see fraudsters sending out SMS's saying you must accept X download. It could happen and so I advised the user not to download any software since it is not needed.

Therefore I am not _too_ sure why you're asking me this?

[Chalkychap]

Sorry for any confusion here @Mhisani - hadn't intended to ask anything.
Just trying to reiterate your point about this emergency alert test being a scamming opportunity. 

As you've clearly stated - don't download anything.